Archbishop's web site Denver Catholic Register Parishes Catholic Pastoral Center
June 27, 2001
New license plate honors Columbine victims
Plates encourage respect for life, provide donation opportunity
The survivors of the tragedy at Columbine High School have a message to share with America: "Respect Life."
A persistent effort by survivors and their parents has led to the creation of the Columbine Respect Life license plate, which is now available for $35 at any office of the Colorado Department of Motor Vehicles. Those trading current plates will also receive an envelope for donations to the Columbine Injured Victims Fund.
The fund benefits not only victims of the Columbine High School shooting, but any school-age student injured in a violent crime. Direct donations may also be made to the fund overseen by the Denver Foundation by writing: Columbine Injured Victims Fund, P.O. Box 24035, Denver, CO 80224-0035.
The first people to donate to the Columbine Injured Victims Fund were Valeen Schnurr, the young Catholic student seriously injured in the shooting who affirmed her belief in a loving God when threatened with death, and Evan Todd, another student who, despite serious injuries, confronted the assailants with their injustice even as they threatened to kill him in the school library.
At a June 19 press conference at the State Capitol, Rep. Don Lee, R-Littleton, introduced the parents who co-chaired the effort to establish the specialty plate, Mark Schnurr and Dale Todd, and the board of directors for the fund, Krista Flanagan, Patti Nielson and Father John Lager, O.F.M. Cap.
Lee said the phrase "Respect Life" means just what it says, and that it wasn't intended as part of the abortion debate.
"Everyone should acknowledge the rights of others and have a deep respect for life, but over the years we've stopped modeling that," said Lee.
"It's this message that two sick students never learned, and our whole society is poorer for it."
Father Lager told the press conference that the "Respect Life" message on the plates, "signify the love and respect that we should have for all life in all of its forms."
Evan Todd was not able to attend the press conference as he was out of state on a Boy Scouts trip. His older brother, Brian, read a statement from Evan that summed up what he hoped would be the outcome of the "Respect Life" message.
"Our nation has always had guns, our nation has always had children, our nation has always had adults," began the statement. "I believe what our nation has not always had is parents murdering their children, and children murdering other children and their parents.
"An ingredient that has made America different in the past couple of generations is changes towards the understanding of what is right and wrong, what is good and evil," continued the statement.
"I believe that they will not find the source of our nation's character flaws in their children, only a reflection of themselves. As kids we hear what you say, but we see what you do. It is my hope that these Columbine Respect Life license plates will in some way help the adult society to find the true sources of this evil and to find solutions to the serious problems within America," he concluded.
For the location of offices of the Colorado Department of Motor Vehicles, call 303-376-2200.
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